| If you are bruised and broken or if you know | | | | we see him doing in this passage. Do read it. You |
| someone who is bruised and broken this article | | | | will be blessed as you receive what God inspires |
| may just be of some help and encouragement. | | | | Dr Luke to explain and write. |
| I have been writing about one of my heroes, Saul | | | | Peter has seen the lambs and the sheep |
| of Tarsus, later to be called Paul, and the story of | | | | scattered by the persecution which the Church of |
| how he came to faith can be found in the New | | | | Jesus Christ in Jerusalem had experienced. |
| Testament book of Acts in Chapter 9. Please, do | | | | This must almost have broken his heart. Peter |
| read the true record of what happened to him. | | | | had faced imprisonment - threats upon his life - as |
| It is so true to life and it is vitally important that | | | | well as witnessing healings and crowds coming to |
| we base our life and thinking upon the Word of | | | | believe in Jesus. Here he is travelling around |
| God and NOT comments upon the Word of God. | | | | seeking visiting those groups of disciples of Jesus |
| When you read the Bible you will never read a | | | | who had to flee from Jerusalem. He would be |
| wrong word. I cannot emphasise sufficiently how | | | | trying to pick up the bits and minister to their |
| necessary it is to read the Biblical text. | | | | various needs. |
| Almost tucked away at the end of that fast | | | | Peter had been in a few traumatic situations and |
| moving breathtaking dramatic account of | | | | had had to face some harrowing and horrendous |
| everything that happened to Saul, this amazing | | | | circumstances, and when you have been there, |
| incident in the life of another leader is told with | | | | you are more able to sit with others who are |
| feeling and emotion. | | | | going through a rough tough season. |
| After that lengthy comprehensive section on how | | | | Some people would have questions. Some would |
| Paul met Jesus Christ - and all that is connected | | | | be sore. They would have lost their homes and |
| with his being born again - so rich - so valuable - in | | | | houses - their possessions and jobs. There would |
| taking us through the very basics of discipleship - | | | | be much to do - many tales to hear - various |
| Luke then switches to speak about Peter. | | | | wounds to heal - and encouragement would be |
| Paul has gone home to Tarsus, and then into the | | | | needed in a way which many of us know little |
| wilderness for around three years, and Peter is | | | | about. |
| now travelling around the country in the Name of | | | | We all need someone to minister to us when we |
| Jesus for the cause of Christ, and Luke gives us | | | | are bruised and broken. These few words may |
| some details about the ministry of Peter, which is | | | | be the very healing balm you are so in need of in |
| needed at that time in various towns and villages | | | | these present days - or a friend or neighbour |
| between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It has been | | | | may have been experiencing a rough patch in |
| such a privilege to visit these very places on | | | | their lives and you can be one to listen to their |
| various occasions. | | | | tale and offer comfort and strength - but |
| Peter too has been through a lot and, | | | | sometimes what people need most of all is just |
| comparatively speaking, he is now an experienced | | | | our time. |
| Pastor. He is a shepherd of the sheep. | | | | And that may open their hearts to what God |
| Jesus Christ had commissioned him to care for | | | | would want to pour into them - His mercy, love |
| the lambs and feed the sheep, and that is what | | | | and peace. |